To avoid being blamed for any budget settlement by his Euro-sceptic rebel backbenchers, who would have been satisfied with nothing less than both a smaller budget and a cut in Britain's contribution – neither of which were on, let alone together.

To avoid being blamed for any summit break-up by the EU institutions and other EU countries, in a repetition of the "isolation" in which Britain found itself after he exercised his veto almost exactly a year ago.

Today, he has achieved both his objectives.

There is no deal, so he doesn't face the prospect of another rebel-Labour alliance defeating him in the Commons.